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AUDRA McDONALD; A Familiar Path

Terry Teachout is disappointed that musical stars like Audra McDonald and Heather Headley have moved on to other things. But Broadway has been a farm team for Hollywood ever since the rise of the movies 80 years ago. Stars like Fred Astaire (20's), Bob Hope (30's), Gene Kelly (40's), Shirley Maclaine (50's) and Barbra Streisand (60's) won early recognition on Broadway, got Hollywood offers and didn't return.

Theater work never matched the money and fame to be earned from playing to a national audience in film or television. A Broadway musical career was the refuge of those who couldn't make it in the big time, like Ray Bolger or Ethel Merman.